Love these emails responding to yesterday’s ode to the manual transmission, prompted by a Wall Street Journal story about a resurgence of the stick shift.
I rhapsodized, in part:
For almost 30 years, my cars – all ragtops – have had manual transmissions – two Miatas, and now, a Mustang. Before that, we actually had a Toyota Camry station wagon with a manual transmission (which admittedly wasn’t the best idea, since we also had kids riding in it). And for a brief time I had an old Triumph Spitfire with a manual transmission. (Which actually was the only part of the. car that worked – the electrical system was horrible, and I finally had to sell it because it was too expensive to keep on the road. When I bought my first Miata, it was like driving a Triumph that actually worked.)
I’m happy about the generational resurgence that manual transmissions are experiencing. The Journal story is an Eye-Opener, reflecting a trend that is rooted in the love of actual driving, when you can sense the road and feel the gears and even, in my case, the wind and sun and the promise of a good day.
MNB reader Brian Blank wrote:
Hey Mr. Coupe – Or should that be “Mr. Sports Coupe”?
I’m also a stick-shift fan, and have owned a number of them throughout the years (VW Rabbit, Datsun pickup, Datsun Maxima, VW Golf, Saab 9-3, Volvo C70), but currently without one. I got a huge smile a couple weeks ago from a Jeep Wrangler I saw on my evening commute. It had one of those slogan covers on the rear-mounted spare tire that read “This vehicle is equipped with a Millennial Anti-Theft Device” and in the center was an illustration of a manual shifter pattern.
And MNB reader David Carlson wrote:
This article brought back some great memories. When I was in High School in the 80s, my dad had a 1967 Triumph Spitfire hardtop convertible. So much fun to drive – not the fastest car ever, but the handling was amazing. But oh, that electrical system… even turning on the headlights was a dicey proposition. Fun times!
Finally, I got a nice email from an MNB reader reacting to another reader to said I had revealed my “true colors” in my story and commentary about the state Attorneys General trying to put retailers on the spot about the dispensing of mifepristone:
Hope you continue to show your true colors (what ever that is…) because after many years of following MNB all that has been apparent is that you are prudent, fair, honest, level headed, and an equal opportunity presenter and listener. Who knew you had true colors.
Thanks. Nice to be appreciated, though Mrs. Content Guy would probably laugh at “prudent” and “level headed.” I’d certainly admit that I can be an equal opportunity wisenheimer.
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